EPA Victoria spent four days last week in East Gippsland inspecting more than 30 businesses across Bairnsdale, Orbost, Mallacoota and surrounding areas.
While some businesses were found to be compliant with Environment Protection laws, many have room for improvement. Issues identified have resulted in at least 5 notices and compliance advice was given to many of the businesses.
Many of the non-compliance issues were around bunding controls to stop liquids entering stormwater drains and installing other controls to improve their environmental performance.
EPA Gippsland Regional Manager Jessica Bandiera said the team of officers also provided advice on the Environment Protection Act 2017, in particular the General Environmental Duty (GED). The GED requires all Victorians to take reasonable actions to reduce the risk of harm from their activities to human health and the environment, from pollution or waste.
"Most businesses want to do the right thing and require some assistance in understanding their obligations and where to get additional resources and information. However, where non-compliance is identified we will take further enforcement action and that could include financial penalties if they continue to non-comply with the law," she said.
The EPA website explains the new law and has advice documents for specific duties and industries, at Understanding your risks and duty to protect the environment – A session for business and industry | Environment Protection Authority Victoria (epa.vic.gov.au)
EPA has information available on line:
Managing liquids
An information video explaining the General Environmental Duty is available at https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/for-community/get-involved/past-events/the-role-of-industry-and-business-in-protecting-the-environment
